🐟 Smallscale Archerfish (Toxotes microlepis)
Freshwater Surface Hunter • Genuinely Does Not Need Brackish Water, Unlike Our Other Archerfish
 
⚠️ Please Read First
Unlike the Archerfish and Largescale Archerfish we also carry, this species is genuinely a true freshwater fish, often specifically sold as the "freshwater archerfish" for exactly this reason. It does not need brackish water, though it genuinely tolerates light brackish conditions (up to about SG 1.005) if you prefer that setup. If you want the archerfish hunting behaviour without managing salinity, this is genuinely the species for you.
 
📋 The Smallscale Archerfish, also called the Lesser Archerfish, shares the same remarkable hunting behaviour as its relatives — spitting precisely aimed jets of water to knock insects into the water from overhanging vegetation. It's genuinely distinguished from the Banded Archerfish by its smaller scales, slightly shorter snout, and generally smaller adult size, though the two are often confused and sometimes sold together as one species.
It's naturally found well upstream in freshwater rivers of Southeast Asia, with overhanging vegetation for hunting. It's genuinely best kept in a group of five to eight for calmer, less skittish behaviour, and it's a determined jumper — a tight-fitting lid is essential.
 
💡 Highlights
✨ Genuine Water-Spitting Hunter: Same fascinating behaviour as its relatives
🌊 Genuinely Freshwater: No brackish water needed, unlike our other archerfish
📏 Smaller Than Banded Archerfish: Max about 15cm, typically 12cm in captivity
👥 Genuinely Best in Groups: Five to eight reduces skittishness
🌿 Needs Open Surface Space: For its genuine hunting behaviour